Don't panic if your home is confiscated or you are exiled, just empty the warehouse and stock u

You are just a lowly thing like an ant, yet you still have the courage to beg for mercy here.

"I have been feeling troubled these days, and you chose to ask for mercy at this time. You really choose an inappropriate time. You are all maids that I carefully selected from the prominent Marquis's mansion. You should be loyal to me and obey my orders."

As soon as these words were spoken, the maid's face froze instantly, fear appeared in her eyes, and she dared not say another word.

A young eunuch came to report: "Your Highness, the Crown Princess, the wife of Marquis An Ning has arrived and has come to ask for an audience."

Meng Wanran gently stroked the embroidered handkerchief in her hand. She originally wanted to find an excuse to get rid of her, but thinking of her current situation, An Ning Marquis Mansion was also one of her retreat options.

"Invite her in."

Soon, Leng Shiyun walked into the hall, dressed in gorgeous clothes, and her steps showed the demeanor of a noble lady.

She looked at Meng Wanran, who was leaning on the chaise longue with a calm expression. Although many thoughts were surging in her mind, she maintained her usual gentle smile on her face.

Meng Wanran raised her eyes, her gaze was indifferent: "Mother, you are here today, but have you found any rare treasures for me to relieve the loneliness of this palace?"

After learning the truth that Meng Wanran was not her biological child, Leng Shiyun felt relieved, but also felt as if she was struck by ice. She blamed herself for her previous credulity and almost letting the wolf into her home.

She tried to remain calm and said, "I brought the exquisite snacks from Baihualou specially."

Meng Wanran was not interested: "Mother, you took the time out of your busy schedule to visit me in the palace. I am very grateful. But, I wonder how Grandmother is doing recently? Is her health improving?"

Leng Shiyun shook her head: "Your grandmother is still the same."

Hearing this, Meng Wanran raised a bitter smile and pretended to sigh, "Mother, tell me, why are the people in our family so miserable?"

Seeing her pretending, Leng Shiyun knew that she was not having a good time in the palace and now she came to complain.

"The Crown Prince is obsessed with his concubine and neglects me. I feel depressed every time I think about it. Fortunately, my mother came to visit me and relieved my depression a little.

She shed a few tears and wiped them away with a handkerchief.

If Leng Shiyun didn't know the truth before, she would definitely feel distressed. Now she just comforted him, "As the Crown Princess, you need to be broad-minded. The Crown Prince likes beautiful concubines now, and there will be more concubines in the future. This kind of thing is inevitable."

After listening to Leng Shiyun's words, I felt more and more suffocated.

"Mother, don't you feel a little wronged for your daughter?"

The maid accidentally spilled the tea, and she said angrily: "The maids who followed me into the palace in the past were not able to do anything useful. They all seemed incapable of doing their job. What I hope in my heart is that my mother can find a few smart and considerate beautiful maids to accompany me and help me succeed."

Leng Shiyun turned her gaze gently to the maid standing beside her. She inadvertently caught a glimpse of the bruises remaining on her wrist, and a pang of sadness rose in her heart.

These subtle details are enough to show that their days here are not as peaceful as they seem.

Recalling Meng Wanran's past actions, Leng Shiyun found it even harder to let go. How could she bear to let the maid she had cultivated with so much effort end up in such a miserable situation?

"It's all because of my poor teaching that they haven't been able to fully display their strengths. I would like to take these maids back and train them myself, and then select a few smart and clever newcomers for you to help you solve the problem in the palace."

Meng Wanran was worried about not having enough manpower, so she wanted to find a woman with good looks and skills to share Wen Daidai's favor.

"These girls are so incompetent, what can you do if you take them back, mother? It would be better to let them stay in the palace and do some rough work as maids, which will be considered as teaching them a lesson." There was no trace of pity in her words.

Leng Shiyun said, "The mansion is in need of a few maids who are diligent in cleaning."

Meng Wanran waved her hand. There were only a few maids around, and one of them was seriously ill and would not live long.

There was another one whose tongue she cut, so he couldn't speak. As for the one next to him, he was timid and cowardly and could not handle the important task.

"Well, since mother needs them, I will take them with me. But I hope mother will not forget the promise she made to me."

"I dare not forget."

Leng Shiyun took a deep breath. She finally brought back these maids.

The timid maidservant among them could not help crying, but there was no nostalgia in her tears, only gratitude for surviving the disaster.

She only suffered some physical torture, but the other two were not as lucky as her.

Leng Shiyun gently stroked Zhu'er's scarred hand, her eyes full of pity and self-blame, and said softly: "You are all girls I have carefully nurtured, but you have suffered such injustice and torture. This fault is mine, all mine."

When Zhu'er heard this, tears welled up in her eyes. She knelt deeper and pleaded in a trembling voice: "Madam, please be merciful and let me stay in the mansion. Even if I become the humblest cleaner, it is better than all this suffering."

Leng Shiyun shook her head: "I will make arrangements for your future. As for the other two girls, they will also live in the Marquis' Mansion and will have no worries about food and clothing for the rest of their lives."

The yard that Jiang Nianwei prepared for Hu Lianxue was very exquisite, but there was no one to serve her, so she was always worried.

The maid named Zhu'er was honest and sincere, and she planned to keep her with Lianxue.

"When you recover from your injuries, I will take you to see someone. From now on, you will never suffer this kind of pain again."

……

Hu Lianxue was just about to close the shop door when a figure appeared and disappeared in the misty rain. Hesitantly wandering in front of the shop, his shoulders wet with raindrops, looking particularly lonely.

When she looked carefully, it was Fu Rongxuan whom she had not seen for a long time, and a ripple appeared in her heart.

The rain was getting heavier. Hu Lianxue could no longer hold back her concern and called out softly, "Master Fu, are you waiting for someone here? The rain is coming down hard. Don't let yourself get cold."

Upon hearing the voice, Fu Rongxuan moved slightly, as if he had come out of some deep thoughts, and slowly took out a pack of hibiscus cakes carefully wrapped in oil paper from his lapel.

"I...was waiting for you."

Fu Rongxuan used to think that she disliked him.

Later I learned that she was afraid of any man.

"I'll leave it at the door and leave. You don't have to come over."

After saying that, Fu Rongxuan placed the wrapped snacks at the door. Then, he turned around and gave her a smile as warm as the sun. There were thousands of words hidden in that smile, but in the end it only turned into a faint arc at the corner of his mouth.

The rain soon wet his shoulders. He did not hesitate at all, leaving behind only a series of footsteps that gradually faded away in the rain.

Hu Lianxue picked up the package of snacks that were still warm. Her fingertips seemed to still retain the warmth from his chest. This delicate care inadvertently touched the softest part of her heart. The corners of her mouth unconsciously rose, revealing a gentle and slightly shy smile.

Then the smile disappeared in an instant, replaced by regret.

She understood that there was an insurmountable gap between herself and Master Fu - his prominent family background was like an unattainable cloud. Although she had found her biological parents, her current status meant that she could only look up to them, not reach them.

Calming down her thoughts, Hu Lianxue quickly returned to her usual indifferent look. She did not take a step to chase after him, but just quietly closed the shop door slowly, isolating herself from the noise from the outside world.

At this moment, Leng Shiyun came over with several followers, "Lianxue, wait a minute."

Noticing her mother's call, Hu Lianxue stopped what she was doing. In front of outsiders, she still called her "Madam".

She shouted in surprise: "Mrs. Nanrong, why are you here? It's still raining outside, come in quickly!"

Leng Shiyun chuckled, her eyes sparkling with love and care, "I came here today on purpose. Seeing that you always like to be alone, I thought of finding a companion to relieve your boredom. Zhu'er, why don't you come and meet your daughter."

Zhu'er walked cautiously in front of Hu Lianxue and said carefully, "Miss, from today on, I will stay by your side and wait for your orders."

Hu Lianxue frowned, "Madam, I appreciate your kindness, but I am used to a quiet life and don't need any extra service around me."

"This child has a tragic fate. I don't mean to impose it on others. I just thought that maybe she could bring you some company and make your life less lonely. You don't have to treat her as a servant. Just think of her as a companion who can talk and relieve boredom, okay?"

Zhu'er was standing aside, feeling puzzled and surprised. She had never expected that this noble and cold Miss Hu Lianxue could make the lady treat her so humbly, as if she was not an ordinary person.

Hu Lianxue's eyes inadvertently swept across Zhu'er's slightly thin figure, and a trace of pity arose in her heart.

She groaned for a moment, "In that case, the store is indeed a little short of staff recently, so you can stay and help me take care of some trivial matters. It can be regarded as mutual care. Zhu'er, you don't have to be restrained."

After hearing this, Leng Shiyun took out Zhu'er's indenture contract and gave it to Hu Lianxue.

Hu Lianxue did not hesitate and directly returned the indenture to Zhu'er. "There is no distinction between master and servant here. You are not my slave, so naturally you do not need such things. You can work here for a few days. If you adapt, you can stay here. If you feel uncomfortable, you can leave or stay as you wish. I will never force you to stay, and I will not complain at all."

Zhu'er glanced at Leng Shiyun, her eyes full of disbelief.

Leng Shiyun nodded at her and said, "Just listen to your daughter, and you will no longer be a slave."

Zhu'er knelt in front of the two of them, "Thank you, young lady, and thank you, ma'am."

When her parents sold her, it was a death indenture. Now that the indenture has returned to her hands, she is free again and can still stay in the shop to make a living.

Leng Shiyun saw the lotus cake on the table and couldn't help asking, "Has anyone been here just now? The cake is still warm."